Q&A - Faraaz Yousuf, Northwest Hospital President and COO

Faraaz Yousuf, Northwest Hospital's new president and COO, discusses how he is adjusting to his new role and his vision for Northwest.

Q: What's your impression of Northwest Hospital?

Faraaz: Northwest is an amazing hospital with a strong culture built on providing an excellent patient and customer experience. The strength of our hospital is our people. Our staff and physicians are friendly, attentive and always willing to lend a helping hand.

Q: What has surprised you most so far?

Faraaz: How busy our Emergency Department is. We see more than 60,000 patients a year, which is a quite an accomplishment for a community hospital. I have also been surprised by the complexity of conditions that come through our Emergency Department.

Q: What is your vision for Northwest?

Faraaz: My vision for the future of Northwest builds upon the strengths of our organization while addressing some of our needs. We are one of the best hospitals in Maryland for quality and a recognized leader in safety as demonstrated by Northwest Hospital getting the 2017 Minogue Award for Patient Safety Innovation from the Maryland Patient Safety Center. To fulfill our quest to be the best we can possibly be, we must continue to improve our patient and visitor experience. It is incumbent upon us to provide the best possible care to our patients in a safe, friendly environment with quick access to care and minimum delays.

Q: What restaurant have you enjoyed most in the area?

Faraaz: I am a fan of local restaurants and generally avoid large chains. I have enjoyed several places, but most notably the Artful Gourmet Bistro in Owings Mills.

Q: What is something most people do not know about you?

Faraaz: Although I have lived in 15 cities across the country, I consider myself from the East Coast because I lived in Virginia from my middle school years through graduate school.